A Pakistan Cricket Board official claims Mohammad Asif has been detained, and not arrested, after a powder was found in his wallet on his way through Dubai International Airport.

Fast bowler Asif, in the Pakistan squad for the tri-series against Bangladesh and India which begins this weekend, was stopped on his way to Lahore from Mumbai after playing for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.

Nadeem Akram, human resources manager for the PCB, told Indian news channel CNN-IBN: “He has not been arrested, he has been detained at Dubai Airport. Apparently it was some drugs given to him by a doctor. It was a very small quantity, it was in his wallet. A small bit of powder.”

He added: “It is a medicine given to him by a hakeem in Dubai. It had been given to him some five-six months ago and he had forgotten about it.”

Shafqat Nagmi, chief operating officer of the PCB, told a news conference: “We consider him innocent until proven guilty. We are in touch with him. We hope it is a mistake and just a harmless issue. We have arranged legal counsel for him.”